The art of tea

Healthy and delicious, tea is a vital element of yum cha. In fact, yum cha literally means "to drink tea" - the food was simply an accompaniment to the main event. Here's how you can make a traditional Chinese brew at home.

What you need

Tea leaves: Choose from green, oolong, black or white.

Teapot and Chinese teacups: Available from Asian supermarkets.

Strainer: This is optional.

What to do

Rinse a 1L (4-cup) capacity teapot with boiling water to warm the pot.

Add 4 heaped teaspoons of tea leaves to the pot.

Add hot water. For black tea, the water should be boiling temperature, while for white, oolong or green tea, it should be 80°C. (Boil the water and set aside in the kettle for about 15 minutes to allow it to reach 80°C.)

Steep black tea for about 3 minutes, oolong and white for up to 4 minutes, and green tea for about 2 minutes. Pour and enjoy.

Random recipes

A note about relevant advertising. We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it
to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. This is also known as Online Behavioural Advertising.
You can find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to
opt-out here.

Our Privacy Policy includes important information about our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information (including to provide you with targeted advertising based on your online activities). It explains that if you do not provide us with information we have requested from you, we may not be able to provide you with the goods and services you require. It also explains how you can access or seek correction of your personal information, how you can complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles and how we will deal with a complaint of that nature.

Or, register using your email address:

This email already exists. You may have previously registered with delicious.com.au, Best Recipes, Vogue Australia or GQ. Please log-in using these details.Yes, I would like to receive the free taste.com.au newsletter &hyphen; a weekly email of our best recipes &hyphen; along with any announcements and special offers from Taste.com.auYes, I would like to receive exclusive and special offers from carefully selected taste.com.au partnersI agree to abide by the taste.com.au Terms & Conditions of use and Privacy Policy

We still need some details from you…

This email already exists. You may have previously registered with delicious.com.au, Best Recipes, Vogue Australia or GQ. Please log-in using these details.Yes, I would like to receive the free taste.com.au newsletter &hyphen; a weekly email of our best recipes &hyphen; along with any announcements and special offers from Taste.com.auYes, I would like to receive exclusive and special offers from carefully selected taste.com.au partnersI agree to abide by the taste.com.au Terms & Conditions of use and Privacy Policy

Our Privacy Policy includes important information about our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information (including to provide you with targeted advertising based on your online activities). It explains that if you do not provide us with information we have requested from you, we may not be able to provide you with the goods and services you require. It also explains how you can access or seek correction of your personal information, how you can complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles and how we will deal with a complaint of that nature.